Paper-making machines



June 5, 1956 R. C. HEYS PAPER-MAKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1953Aftorney United States Patent PAPER-MAKING MACHINES Ralph Chalinor Heys,Sheffield, England, assiguor to Beloit Iron Works, Beloit, Wis., acorporation of Wisconsin Application January 12, 1953, Serial No.330,831

Claims priority, application Great Britain January 25, 1952 4 Claims.(Cl. 92-44) This invention relates to paper-making machines of theFourdrinier type employing automatic pick-up means of a suction rollmaking contact with the wire at some point in its run from the couchroll to a forward drive roll over which the wire is passed before makingits return run to the breast roll. The necessary contact of the pick-uproll with the wire is obtained either by adjustment of the roll itselfwith respect to the wire, or, if the roll is the bottom roll of astacked press, by swinging the forward drive roll to adjust its height.

in such constructions, a certain amount of the water extracted from thewet web by the suction couch roll remains entrained in the mesh of theforming wire, and this is carried beyond the suction area of the couchroll while the wire is still supporting the paper web, with the resultthat entrained water may be re-absorbed by the paper web before the webis removed from the wire by the pick-up roll. It is an object of thepresent invention to provide means for removing entrained water from theWire to prevent re-absorption by the web, thereby effecting a higherdegree of water extraction and a more efficient use of the couch roll.

According to the present invention, in a paper-making machine of thetype described, a vacuum chamber is disposed transversely across andbelow the forming wire between the suction couch roll and the forwarddrive roll, preferably extending from the point at which the wire leavesthe couch roll, and either extending to the point at which the wirereaches the forward roll or stopping at some intermediate point, e. g.opposite a suction pick-up roll making contact with the wire before thewire reaches the forward drive roll.

Thus, a rubber-covered roll may be disposed to contact both the couchroll and the forward roll to complete the bottom of the vacuum chamber,with end plates in sealed contact with the peripheries of the threerolls and with the underside of the wire to form a chamber equal inwidth to the width of the paper being formed. The end plates arepreferably adjustably positioned as to their contact with the wire inaccordancewith the width of paper being formed. The forward roll shouldbe mounted so as to bring the wire from the couch roll at a steep angle,the top of the forward roll then lying at the bottom of the vacuumchamber, with a water outlet in one end wall draining water collectingat the bottom of the chamber. The vacuum pick-up roll makes contact withthe wire where the latter makes its first contact with the forward roll.Suction is applied to the vacuum chamber either through the perforatedshell of the couch roll, with a suction-box compartment of appropriateangular extent within that roll, or through the water outlet or aseparate vacuum connection to the chamber; or through both the couchroll shell and the water outlet.

The couch roll preferably has at least two suction compartments, one inadvance of the point at which the wire leaves the roll and applying say12" to 1 5" suction (Hg) and other say 15 to 20" suction. A highvelocity air compartment may be provided to clear the perforations ofthe couch roll of entrained water.

The amount of suction applied depends on the porosity of the paper, andalso on the extent to which wire marking may be detrimental to thequality of the finished product, and the values given above may have tobe reduced somewhat for very free beaten and porous papers. However, forwet beaten paper, giving low porosity, there will be a tendency toincrease the vacuum, within the limits to which the usual vacuumbreakers are set.

In another construction, the vacuum chamber is formed by a trough havingone wall making sealing contact with the periphery of the couch roll, asecond wall making sealing contact with the underside of the formingwire at a point corresponding to the point of contact of a vacuumpick-up roll with the upper surface of the wire, a vacuum connection tothe chamber for removal of entrained water in the mesh of the wire intothe chamber, a connection for removal of water from the bottom of thetrough, and end plates completing the chamber and making sealing contactwith the underside of the wire and with the periphery of the couch roll.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, inpart section, of a machine with one construction of vacuum chamber;

Figure 2 correspond to Fig. 1, but shows a section through the vacuumchamber;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of a machine with anotherconstruction of vacuum chamber.

In Figures 1 to 3, the wire 16 on which the paper web 11 is formedpasses over a suction couch roll 12 into a forward and downward run 13and round a forward drive roll 14 into its return run 15. Suction of 12"to 15" Hg is applied to the suction box 16 of the roll 12, for furtherremoval of water from the web 11, which is removed from the wire run 13by means of a suction pick-up roll 1.7 just in advance of the roll 14.The roll 17 guides a transfer felt 18, which makes the actual contactwith the web, and the web passes on the underside of the felt 18 to thepress section of the machine. (The perforations have not been shown ineither the couch roll 12 or the pick-up roll 17.)

Between the rolls 12, 14 is formed a vacuum chamber 19, closed at thesides by end plates 20 and at the bottom by a roll 21 with a rubbercovering 22 making sealing contact with the rolls 12, 14. The edges ofthe end plates 20 have sealing strips 23 making sealing contact with therolls 12, 14. To adjust the opening of the chamber 19 to the width ofthe web 11, each end plate 20 has an inward flange 24 (Figure 3)parallel to the wire run 13, and in the space thus provided ispositioned a movable deckle or sealing plate 25 through which isthreaded a screwed rod 26 controlled by a hand-wheel 27. The deckle 25is edged with rubber or like strips to make sealing contact with theinner face of the flange 24 and the undersurface of the wire run 13. Theend plates 20 are carried by brackets 28 from brackets 29 on which theroll 14 is mounted.

An outlet 30 is formed near the bottom of one end plate '20 for removalof water from the chamber 19. This outlet may also serve for applicationof vacuum of say 15" to 20 Hg to the chamber, by means of which water isextracted over the whole of the wire run 13 between the rolls 12, 14.Alternatively, or in addition, vacuum may be applied to the chamber froma second suction box 31 in the couch roll 12, through the perforatedshell exposed between the upper edges of the plates 20 and the wire run13. A further chamber 32 in the couch roll 12 may serve to clear waterfrom the perforations of that roll by the application of high velocityair.

The peripheral speeds of the rolls 12, 14 being the same, the sealingroll 21' may be driven by the contact of its rubber cover 22 with theserolls, the roll being froeely carried in sealed bearing bosses 33 on theend plates 2 In Figure 4, there is the same disposition of couch roll 12and forward drive roll 14 providing a forward and downward run 13 of thewire 10, but the suction pick-up roll 40 is the bottom roll of a stackedpress, and brings the pick-up felt 41 into contact with the paper Web 11near the middle of the wire run 13. The web 11 is carried round themiddle suction roll 42 of the press between the felt 41 and a transferfelt 43, leaving the press on the felt 43 after passing the plain toproll 44, from which the pick-up felt 41 passes into its return run.

Between the point at which the wire run 13 leaves the couch roll 12 andthe point of contact of the pick-up roll 40 is vacuum chamber 45 formedby a trough 46 having one wall 47 in sealing contact with the peripheryof the couch roll shell, sealing material 48 being interposed. The otherwall 49 of the trough makes similar sealing contact at 50 with a roll 51that makes sealing contact with the undcrsurface of the wire run 13opposite the pick-up roll 40. The roll 51 is carried by bearing bossesin the end plates of the trough 46 in a similar manner to the roll 21 inFigure 3. It may be positively driven by having its shaft carriedthrough a stufi'ing box in one of the bosses for connection to a drivingmember. Adjustable deckles or sealing plates 52, controlled by screwedrods 53, as are the deckles 25 of Figure 3, enable the effective mouthof the trough 46 to be brought to the width of the web 11.

A drain connection 52 is provided in the end of the trough 46 forremoval of water extracted over the wire run 13 between the couch roll12 and the pick-up roll 40. This may also serve for the application ofvacuum, say 15" to 20" Hg, to the chamber 45. Alternatively, or inaddition, vacuum may be applied to the chamber from a second suctioncompartment 54 of the couch roll 12, a first compartment 55 havingpreviously applied say 12 to 15" Hg to the wire before it reaches thechamber 45. A high velocity air compartment 46 of the couch roll 12serves to clear water from the perforations of the roll after they havepassed the trough 46.

For adjustment of the chamber 45 to make the necessary simultaneoussealing contact with the surface of the couch roll 12 and the undersideof the wire run 13, the trough may be adjustable about a pivot co-axialwith the couch roll, the wall 47 of the trough making sealing contactover a substantial arc of the surface of the couch roll shell. With sucha construction, the seal with the couch roll shell is maintained in anyposition, and the trough may be adjusted about the pivot until thesealing roll 51 on the other Wall 49 makes contact with the underside ofthe wire and presses the wire and paper against the pick-up felt 41passing round the pick-up roll 40.

In Figures 1 to 3, the pick-up roll 17 is adjusted to and from the wirerun 13 to provide for effective sealing with the forward drive roll, andthe latter is held in fixed bearings. With the pick-up roll 40 of Figure4 the relativelyfixed bottom roll of a stacked press, then the forwarddrive roll 14 may be made adjustable to maintain the necessary sealingcontact of the roll 51 with the roll 40, e. g. by being adjustable aboutthe axis of the couch roll 12, instead of the more usual adjustmentabout the axis of its intermediate driving pinion (not shown); forexample, the trough 46 and the drive roll 14, may be carried on a pairof arms 57 adjustable about the axis of the couch roll. The trough 14may also be separately adjustable on the arms 57 towards and away fromthe pick-up roll 40.

The vacuum chamber arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 may be used with astacked, press pick-up as in Figure 4,

and the vacuum chamber arrangement of Figure 4 may be used with anindependent pick-up roll as in Figures 1 to 3.

What I claim is:

1. A paper-making machine of the Fourdrinier type having a suctionpick-up roll making contact with the forming wire beyond the couch rollin a run of the wire from the couch roll to a forward drive roll,comprising a vacuum chamber disposed transversely across and below thewire between the suction couch roll and the forward drive roll andextending from the couch roll to the forward drive roll, with arubber-covered roll in contact with both rolls to complete the bottom ofthe chamber, and end plates in sealed contact with the peripheries ofthe three rolls and the underside of the wire.

2. A paper-making machine of the Fourdrinier type having a suctionpick-up roll making contact with the forming wire beyond the couch rollin a run of the wire from the couch roll to a forward drive roll,comprising a vacuum chamber disposed transversely across and below thewire between the suction couch roll and the forward drive roll andextending from the couch roll to the forward drive roll, with arubber-covered roll in contact with both rolls to complete the bottom ofthe chamber, and end plates in sealed contact with the peripheries ofthe three rolls and the underside of the wire, the end plates beingadjustably positioned as to their contact with the wire in accordancewith the width of paper being formed.

3. A paper-making machine of the Fourdrinier type having a suctionpick-up roll making contact with the forming wire beyond the couch rollin a run of the wire from the couch roll to a forward drive roll,comprising a vacuum chamber disposed transversely across and below thewire between the suction couch roll and the forward drive roll andextending from the couch roll to the forward drive roll, with arubber-covered roll in contact with both rolls to complete the bottom ofthe chamber, and end plates in sealed contact with the peripheries ofthe three rolls and the underside of the wire, the chamber being exposedto the shell of the couch roll for the application of the couch rollsuction to the chamber through the shell of the roll.

4. A paper making machine of the Fourdrinicr type comprising a loopedforming wire, a couch roll within the loop of the forming wire, aforward roll also within the loop of the forming wire and cooperatingwith the couch roll to support a forward run of the forming wire, a feltcovered suction pickup roll making contact with the forward run of thewire to pick up a paper web therefrom, and a vacuum chamber disposedtransversely across and below the forward run of the wire between thesuction couch roll and the forward drive roll and extending from thecouch roll to the forward drive roll, with sealing means engaging bothrolls and defining a complete bottom of the chamber and end plates insealing engagement with the peripheries of the rolls and the undersideof the wire defining the side walls of the chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS611,422 Savery Sept. 22, 1898 1,517,018 Seaborne Nov. 25, 1924 1,549,338Tompkins Aug. 11, 1925 1,701,226 Collins Feb. 5, 1929 1,930,104Millspaugh Oct. 10, 1933 1,959,520 Blais et al. May 22, 1934 1,981,049Kellett Nov. 20, 1934 2,174,744 Hill Oct. 3, 1939 2,204,426 MillspaughJune 11, 1940 2,338,465 Street Ian. 4, 1944 2,535,738 Hrubecky Dec. 26,1950 2,686,463 Hornbostel Aug. 17, 1954 2,694,346 Goodwillie Nov. 16,1954

